BMC’s BDCD1 CD Belt Drive Player/Transport Arrives in the US

Supplier Aaudio Imports is bringing the high-end German product to U.S. audiences.

While the world keeps heading in the direction of digital, German manufacturer Balanced Music Concept (B.M.C.) Audio is perfecting the CD player. Supplier Aaudio Imports just announced plans to bring that product, the BDCD1 CD Belt Drive Player/Transport, to the U.S.

There are two very unique perks on this top-loading player. First of all, it promises a very smooth operation. That’s because it uses a belt drive instead of a common direct drive. That boasts a constant data stream as the disc rotates. It also decouples motor vibration from the CD, and helps the disc rotate silently on a special precision bearing with a 50-micron tolerance. It also uses a flywheel-like CD stabilizer to keep that rotation smooth and quiet.

Believe it or not, that’s just one of the perks. The BDCD1 also has B.M.C.’s own Superlink connection, which promises better details and a more realistic sound stage. Part of that process uses four impedance-matched 75-Ohm BNC cables to transmit digital audio signals as four separate streams of information. This is a departure from the usual SPDIF interface, which merges the streams before separating them again.

The BDCD1 is available both as a transport and with an optional DAC module that turns the unit into a complete CD player with analog output. A clock synchronization circuit optimizes the digital signal performance in front of the DAC, and two 24-Bit/192kHz PCM1792 chips with current output by Texas Instruments and Burr-Brown retime the digital signals to the local master clock.

Other BDCD1 features include a modular design, B.M.C.’s own Current Injection (CI), and a LEF driver circuit.

The BDCD1 has front-panel controls and rear-panel connections that include the digital Superlink with four 75-Ohm BNC cable outputs, a balanced XLR terminal, RCA and BNC terminals for coaxial cable connections, AES/EBU and Toslink outputs, and an AC power connection. A set of analog outputs can be added optionally for connection to a DAC.

Speaking of options: A remote for the BDCD1 is available separately for $270. Aaudio Imports is now selling the BDCD1 CD Belt Drive Player/Transport for $5,790 (MSRP). The Transport, minus the DAC and CD upgrade, is also available for $4,790.